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Valley Children’s Healthcare to Install Renewable Energy Microgrid

By Better Buildings Beat Team on Sep 25, 2024
Deputy Director of DOE’s Building Technologies Office Ram Narayanamurthy (sixth from left) with elected officials and Valley Children’s Healthcare leadership and mascot, George the Giraffe

Better Climate Challenge partner Valley Children’s Healthcare recently broke ground on a largest-of-its-kind renewable energy microgrid. Comprised of solar photovoltaic, battery storage, and fuel cells, the system will reduce Valley Children's Healthcare's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%. The microgrid will also ensure hospital and campus buildings remain operational during regional power outages by reducing reliance on the traditional power grid. Read more about the project in this Better Buildings Implementation Model

DOE visited Valley Children’s Healthcare to join the groundbreaking and recognize the partner’s commitment to decarbonization.

Deputy Director of DOE’s Building Technologies Office Ram Narayanamurthy (sixth from left) with elected officials and Valley Children’s Healthcare leadership and mascot, George the Giraffe
Deputy Director of DOE’s Building Technologies Office Ram Narayanamurthy (sixth from left) with elected officials and Valley Children’s Healthcare leadership and mascot, George the Giraffe
Ram Narayanamurthy delivered remarks on behalf of DOE
Ram Narayanamurthy delivered remarks on behalf of DOE

Valley Children’s Healthcare provides care at its 358-bed standalone children’s hospital in Madera, California, and a regional network of specialty, primary, and women’s health services throughout Central California. Valley Children's clean energy strategy aims to strengthen energy resilience on its hospital campus and spearhead initiatives to decarbonize. This plan encompasses the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The renewable energy microgrid is a key component of the partner’s plan to reach its Better Climate Challenge goal.

Rendering of the solar array for the renewable energy microgrid, which will take the shape of Valley Children’s Healthcare’s mascot, George the Giraffe
Rendering of the solar array for the renewable energy microgrid, which will take the shape of Valley Children’s Healthcare’s mascot, George the Giraffe

Learn more about the Better Climate Challenge and decarbonizing the healthcare sector on the Better Buildings Solution Center.